What if the driver that caused the accident has too little or no insurance?

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If the driver that caused the accident has no insurance or not enough insurance, then you should find out if your own car insurance policy contains Uninsured (UM) or Underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance, and under-insured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to cover your damages. If either situation applies and you have the necessary additional coverage, your own insurance company should pay for your damages up to the limits of the UM or UIM coverage you purchased.

It may seem odd that your own insurance company would pay you because the other driver was at fault. However, many drivers do not carry any or enough insurance, and this is precisely why this coverage exists. The other driver has inadequate insurance, so your company pays you under your own policy.

Don’t worry, your insurance rates cannot go up because you did nothing wrong – it is not your fault the other driver did not have enough insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage is very important because if you are the victim of a “hit and run” and the other driver is not caught, your UM coverage will provide you with protection.

You should note that both UM and UIM provide you with coverage if you are injured because of the fault of another driver whether you are riding in a car, riding a bicycle or even walking as a pedestrian.

Contact our Kansas City Accident Attorney

For more information about personal injury claims in Missouri and Kansas, please download a free copy of my book, Crash Course, from our website. You can also contact our firm by calling (816) 203-0143 or by filling out a form on our Contact Us page. Contacting us is FREE and confidential, and there is no obligation to hire our firm.